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A decision made (02.03.09) to determine intent to list Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St. Peter as a Site of Special Interest.

Decision Ref:	MD-PE-2009-0046
Subject:	List of Sites of Special Interest: Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter
Decision Summary Title:	DS - List as Site of Special Interest: Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter
DS Author:	Assistant Director: Policy and Projects
DS Date:	21 February 2009	DS Status:	Public
Written Report Title:	WR – List as Site of Special Interest: Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter
WR Author:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
WR Date	16 February, 2009	WR Status:	Public
Oral Rapporteur:	Head of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage
Decision(s):	The Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment expressed her intention to List Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter as a Site of Special Interest by reason of its special interest.
Reason(s) for Decision:	The intention to List Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter as a Site of Special Interest is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings as follows:
Legal and Resource Implications:	Article 51(2)(b) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 enables the Minister to include on the List of Sites of Special Interest those buildings and places that the Minister is satisfied has public importance by reason of the special archaeological, architectural, artistic, historical, scientific or traditional interest that attaches to the building or place
Action required:	Serve Notice of Intent to List;
Signature:		Date of SMT approval:
Position:	Assistant Minister for Planning and Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different to Date Signed):

Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St. Peter - Intention to List as Site of Special Interest

List of Sites of Special Interest

Blanchard House, La Grande Route de St Pierre, St Peter

This report has been prepared by Jersey Heritage as part of its responsibility under a Service Level Agreement to provide reports and recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment on the architectural, historical and archaeological significance of buildings and sites.

The assessment and recommendation are made in accordance with Article 51 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law, 2002; Policy G11 of the Jersey Island Plan, 2002; and is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings. The report includes the views and advice offered by the Ministerial Registration and Listing Advisory Group.

Author of report: Roger Hills BA(Hons) MA DipBldgCons (RICS) IHBC Head of Historic Buildings

Date of report: 16 February 2009

File ref: PE0154

Current status

Registered as a proposed Site of Special Interest.

Relevant interests of the site (see schedule for more detail)

Blanchard House was built c.1830s in late Georgian style, with associated ancillary buildings and grounds. The house is illustrative of the architectural fashions of that period and more widely of Jersey’s social, economic and cultural history during the early 19th century.

The principal features of interest include an Ionic porch with large pineapple finials (the symbol of hospitality), original sliding sash windows complete with external shutters to the main elevation, a hipped roof with unusual early 19th century round-headed dormers and a set of four tall stucco chimneystacks, an 1830s hallway with notable detailing such as a decorative plaster cornice with enriched mouldings, pilaster archways and a mahogany staircase with unusual pattern balusters.

The interior fittings and features in the ground floor and first floor rooms are not of interest as they were refitted in the 20th century with a variety of faux-historic elements. The has also been some remodelling to the original layout of these rooms with the merging of two ground floor reception rooms, the apparent amalgamation of the first floor box-room within a bedroom, and the subsequent re-positioning of associated doorways, and stud walls sub-dividing the rear bedrooms. The attic retains its original layout.

The extent of interest of the site includes a group of 19th century ancillary buildings which are utilitarian in nature but significant for their association with the main house, and the yards to the rear of the property and the front garden and driveway, which are intrinsic to the setting of the property.

The two flat-roofed extensions added to the rear of the house c.1950-70s, and the modern entrance gateway with re-used apple-crusher wheels are not of interest.

Advice offered by MRLAG (and others if stated)

MRLAG discussed the site at its meeting on 9 February 2009. Members recognised the architectural and historical interest of the property and discussion centred on the impact of the internal alterations on that interest. 9 members recommended that the survival of the 1830s staircase and hallway with associated pilaster archways and doorcases justify listing Blanchard House as an SSI. 2 members recommended that BLI is more apt taking into consideration the re-fitting of the main rooms in the 20th century.

Jersey Heritage recommendation

Blanchard House should be listed as an SSI for its architectural and historical interest as set out in the accompanying schedule.

Justification relating to criteria

The listing of Blanchard House as an SSI is in accordance with the existing criteria for assessment and designation of historic buildings:

the special interest of the property extends substantially to its authentic fabric, plan form and interior features, and is not substantially confined to the exterior of the building and the contribution which it makes to the character or appearance of its landscape setting;

Blanchard House is of interest as a late Georgian residence that is illustrative of Jersey’s social, economic and cultural history during that period;

Blanchard House is of special interest for its architectural design, style, artistic decoration, craftsmanship, composition and use of materials and details;

Blanchard House is of special interest as it retains some major elements of its 1830s historic interior.